Japanese Grammar: How to use だけ (Dake) – “Only” / “Just”

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Japanese Grammar: How to use だけ (Dake) – “Only” / “Just”
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

‘Dake’ means ‘only’, ‘just’, or ‘merely’. It is used to limit the scope of something or to express that there is nothing more than what is mentioned.

🎯 Primary Function

To establish a limit or boundary on a noun, action, or state.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Plain/Dictionary form) + だけ
I-Adjective (Dictionary Form) + だけ
Na-Adjective + な + だけ
Noun + ではない + だけ / Verb (Negative form) + だけ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in formal settings when combined with the ‘desu/masu’ form. Often used in reports or polite requests.

😊 Informal Situations

Very frequent in casual speech to express ‘just’ or ‘simply’ (e.g., ‘Just kidding!’).

✍️ Written Language

Used in textbooks, articles, and personal letters to define specific scopes.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Widely used to emphasize limits or to clarify intentions.

💡 Common Applications

Limiting Quantity
Used with counters or numbers to specify a limited amount.
Example: 一つだけ (Only one)
Limiting Actions
Used with verbs to express that an action is limited to a specific behavior.
Example: 見るだけ (Just looking)
Explaining Reasons
Used to clarify that a state is simply due to one factor and nothing else.
Example: 疲れているだけ (I’m just tired)
📊
Frequency
High. Extremely common in daily conversation and basic writing.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N5 (Beginner)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N5 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N5 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
水だけ飲みます。
Furigana: みず だけで のみます。
Romaji: Mizu dake nomimasu.
English: I only drink water.
Example #2
五分だけ待ってください。
Furigana: ごふん だけ まってください。
Romaji: Gofun dake matte kudasai.
English: Please wait for only five minutes.
Example #3
この本だけ買いました。
Furigana: この ほん だけ かいました。
Romaji: Kono hon dake kaimashita.
English: I only bought this book.
Example #4
質問は一つだけです。
Furigana: しつもん は ひとつ だけ です。
Romaji: Shitsumon wa hitotsu dake desu.
English: There is only one question.
Example #5
彼女は静かなだけです。
Furigana: かのじょ は しずかな だけ です。
Romaji: Kanojo wa shizukana dake desu.
English: She is just quiet.
Example #6
疲れているだけです。
Furigana: つかれている だけ です。
Romaji: Tsukarete iru dake desu.
English: I am just tired.
Example #7
田中さんだけが知っています。
Furigana: たなかさん だけ が しっています。
Romaji: Tanaka-san dake ga shitte imasu.
English: Only Tanaka-san knows.
Example #8
ひらがなだけ書けます。
Furigana: ひらがな だけ かけます。
Romaji: Hiragana dake kakemasu.
English: I can only write Hiragana.
Example #9
百円だけあります。
Furigana: ひゃくえん だけ あります。
Romaji: Hyakuen dake arimasu.
English: I only have 100 yen.
Example #10
このりんごは高いだけです。
Furigana: この りんご は たかい だけ です。
Romaji: Kono ringo wa takai dake desu.
English: This apple is just expensive. (It doesn’t taste good)
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Dake with Positive Verbs
‘Dake’ indicates a limit but usually carries a neutral or positive nuance compared to ‘shika’.
Example: 二人だけいます。 (There are only two people.)
Dake vs. Shika
‘Dake’ focuses on the amount being ‘just’ that much. ‘Shika’ emphasizes that it is ‘not enough’ or ‘nothing else’.
Example: 百円だけあります。 vs 百円しかありません。
Particle Order
‘Dake’ can be followed by particles like ‘ni’, ‘de’, and ‘kara’.
Example: お茶だけに砂糖を入れます。 (I put sugar only in the tea.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ リンゴしかあります。 (Ringo shika arimasu.)
✅ リンゴしかありません。 (Ringo shika arimasen.)
‘Shika’ must be paired with a negative verb, whereas ‘Dake’ is usually paired with a positive verb.
❌ 田中さんがだけ来ました。
✅ 田中さんだけ(が)来ました。
‘Dake’ can replace ‘ga’ or ‘o’, but it is often incorrect to place ‘ga’ before ‘dake’. It should be ‘Noun + dake + particle’.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. It depends on the ending of the sentence (e.g., ~dake desu vs ~dake da).
Social Situations: Used commonly when shopping (‘I’m just looking’) or when making excuses (‘I just forgot’).
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese uses ‘dake’. In some dialects like Kansai-ben, ‘bakari’ or ‘shika’ might be used with different nuances, but ‘dake’ is understood everywhere.

🔍 Subtle Differences

Dake vs. Shika
‘Dake’ is used with positive verbs; ‘Shika’ is used with negative verbs and implies a sense of ‘nothing else’ or ‘insufficient’.
When to use: Use ‘Dake’ for neutral facts. Use ‘Shika’ to express that the small amount is a problem or unexpected.
Dake vs. Bakari
‘Bakari’ suggests ‘nothing but’ or ‘full of’, often implying repetition or excess. ‘Dake’ is a strict limit.
When to use: Use ‘Dake’ when you mean exactly ‘only’. Use ‘Bakari’ when you mean ‘doing nothing but [action]’.

📝 Conjugation Notes

When used with Na-adjectives, you must keep the ‘na’ before ‘dake’. For Nouns, simply attach ‘dake’ directly. For Verbs and I-adjectives, use the plain/dictionary form.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce ‘da-ke’ clearly with a flat intonation. Avoid stressing the ‘ke’ too much.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Dake’ as ‘Docking’ a limit. You are docking the number or action at a specific point and not letting it go further.

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